Patiala, Sept. 4 -- The army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to assist the Patiala district administration in relief efforts and to reinforce embankments, as the seasonal Ghaggar river flows 0.5 feet above its danger level of 16 feet.

With more water expected to enter the river from the Bhankpur gauge in Dera Bassi in Mohali, the Ghaggar is likely to swell and wreak havoc in Ghanour and Rajpura villages.

The water has started entering villages in the Ghanaur and Rajpura blocks of Patiala.

The Patiala District administration has already appealed to the residents of 21 villages in Rajpura block, located along the embankment of the Ghaggar, to immediately move to safe locations.

"We are in alert mode....